"The Ultimate Fighter 7 " -- episode 5 recap

Episode No. 5 of “The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Jackson” begins with a recap of last week’s fight between Tim Credeur and Matthew Riddle. A solid fight ultimately ended in victory for Team Forrest’s Credeur, which put Team Jackson in a 0-2 hole to start the competition.

After the fight, the veteran Tim tells Matthew that he’s one of the toughest opponents he’s ever faced — and he promises to buy the 21-year-old an Xbox 360. Mathew is thrilled with the consolation prize, but the joy is quickly replaced by annoyance on the van ride home.

“You don’t defend your armbar and get an Xbox,” Jeremy May says.

(His five teammates roll their eyes almost hard enough to hear it.)

Back at the house, Matthew and most of his Team Jackson teammates retire to the hot tub to relax. Jeremy strips down and grabs a towel ready to join them, but they’ve locked the door and have no intentions of letting him join them.

Back at the gym, Team Jackson needs some motivation, so coach Quinton Jackson calls in “The Ultimate Fighter 3″ winner Michael Bisping to work out with the team for the day. The veteran explains the importance of resting, learning and leaving it all in the cage.

Meanwhile, Jeremy talks to Rampage and says he think he’ll be picked to fight when Team Forrest announces the next match-up.

Team Forrest then takes to the gym. Veteran Matt Brown, a fighter whose career I’ve followed here in Ohio, is the focus. Coach Forrest Griffin and his teammates all rave about Brown’s intensity and work ethic.

(Could a Jeremy-Matt fight be in store?)

Anyway, back at the house, Jeremy is “cruisin’ for a bruisin’,” as my mom used to say. He takes Matt’s dip can and fills it with lime juice. Jeremy does it in clear site of nearly ever cast member, which baffles every one of them.

“Matt Brown is one of those human beings that you don’t mess with — at all,” Tim says. “Matt Brown is going to punch holes in him.”

Sure enough, when Matt returns home, he’s tipped off about the prank and immediately confronts Jeremy.

While explaining to Jeremy they’re not nearly buddy enough to do something like that, Matt also tells him that he was going to be his pick to fight next anyway. But now, he says, he has a good reason to beat his face in.

(Isn’t it great when things just have a way of working themselves out?)

Back at the gym, though, we’re thrown a curveball when Forrest announces that Team Forrest’s Dante Rivera (10-2) will take on Team Rampage’s Brandon Sene (2-0).

Come again? Didn’t he just say…

“So, assuming that we win the next fight, I’ll be fighting Jeremy May,” Matt says.

Tease.

The focus turns to the upcoming fight, and Rampage is confident that Brandon, a professional sniper, has the ability to knock out his veteran opponent. Back at Team Forrest, the squad is working on a game plan for Dante, and Forrest reaffirms his belief that his team will make it 3-0.

Without much in the way of a build-up, we’re quickly underway.

Brandon, working with a height and reach advantage, can’t keep Dante from closing the distance, and the fighters clinch against the fence. Brandon delivers a few short punches, but Dante scores the trip-takedown and lands in sidemount. However, as Dante tries to secure a headlock, Brandon quickly gets back to his feet. Dante again closes the distance, but Brandon reverses the clinch and delivers knees to the legs and body with his opponent pushed against the fence. Each fighter remains patient and fends off the other’s takedown attempts, and after a stalemate against the fence, referee Steve Mazzagatti restarts them in the center of the cage. Dante again closes the distance and scores a double-leg takedown. Brandon, though, does as much damage while securing full guard as Dante does from above. Dante then pulls back and attempts a knee-bar, but Brandon escapes as the round ends. It’s a competitive and strategic — and close — first round that likely goes to Dante, 10-9.

Round two is underway, and after a quick peak at my clock, I can’t help but think Brandon will tie it up to force a third-round tiebreaker. My prediction comes closer to fruition as Brandon delivers some quick jabs to start the round, but Dante again pins him against the fence to stall the action. Brandon lands some knees to the body, but Dante is relentless, holding his opponent against the fence. Mazzagatti yells “Stop!” and steps in to restart the fighters just as Dante finally secures the trip-takedown. Mazzagatti decides to let the fight continue on the ground. Dante works from half-guard, delivering punches while Brandon is pinned against the fence on his back. However, Brandon sinks in a head lock and uses the fence to work his way back to his feet. Dante immediately works for the takedown, but Brandon fends off the attempts for nearly a minute. Ultimately, though, Dante trips his opponent to the mat, but again, he doesn’t do much once there. Despite having position from half-guard, Dante can deliver little punishment, and Brandon soon flips him over to claim half mount. Brandon now goes on the offensive with elbows and punches and nearly secures the mount as the round comes to a close. While that last effort probably convinced some judges to give the round to Brandon, I have it 10-9 for Dante (for a 20-18 victory).

However, the judges disagree, and Mazzagatti confirms a third-round tiebreaker is about to start.

The third frame is underway, and Brandon looks the fresher fighter. Dante is winking with his right eye — not because he’s digging Brandon, but more likely because he’s having difficulty seeing. However, when Brandon swarms in, Dante catches him with a knee to the face and again pins Brandon against the fence. Again, though, Brandon fends off the takedown attempts to force a restart in the center of the cage. Dante partially connects on a big overhand left and then dips down for the takedown. Brandon’s again put on his back, but his guard keeps Dante tied up for the most part. Brandon sneaks in a few punches and then lands a series of sharp elbow strikes to the top of his opponent’s dome. Mazzagatti yells for action, which prompts Dante to stand and rain down punches. They don’t land — but an upkick from Brandon does. Dante fights through it to reclaim sidemount, but again, he can do little with the position. Brandon tries to escape, but Dante covers him and then lands a few knees to the body. Brandon again tries an escape, but Dante blankets him and closes all escape routes. With 10 seconds to go, Dante simply holds the position to ride out what should be a winning round and decision victory.

Dante controlled the fight, though Brandon probably did a little more damage. But if you’re a judge and consider octagon control, you probably have to give it to Rivera. Dana White says neither fighter impressed him.

The fight goes to the judges, and sure enough, Dante is announced as the winner.

Dana thinks Brandon won the fight — and so does an irate Rampage, who storms out to the parking lot yelling that Dante simply stalled the entire fight. He returns to the locker room, and the team rallies around Brandon, who’s justifiably emotional after the tough loss.

Meanwhile, Team Forrest savors its third-straight victory and overall 3-0 lead in the competition.

However, before the episode ends, we get confirmation that Matt and Jeremy will, in fact, fight in the next episode. An intense staredown closes out the episode and leaves us anxious for next week.

* * * *

Don’t forget about tomorrow’s “Ten TUF Questions” feature here at
MMAjunkie.com. If you have a question for Brandon Sene, leave it in
the comments section below. We’ll use the best ones for tomorrow’s
interview.

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